A Phase I Clinical Protocol to Study the Safety and Tolerability of Endoscopic Injection of Autologous Muscle Derived Cells (MDC) in Children With Exstrophy-epispadias Complex Related Urinary Incontinence

The ability to inject the MDC product in a safe and tolerable manner in a clinical setting using a descriptive approach. [ Time Frame: Post op day 1, day 40, monthly afterwards for 36 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

After the biopsy the MDC expansion process takes approximately 21 days after which cells are harvested and cryopreserved for future injection. The MDC product is stored in single use vials, with each vial containing approximately 2.6 x 10^7 total cells. The volume of each vial will be 1.3ml. This study uses a single dose of approximately 2.0 x 10^7 cells administered endoscopically into the external urethral sphincter in 12 injections of 0.1ml each. Six months post-initial MDC injection, group 1 participants with persistent bladder capacity less than 100cc and group 2 participants with persistent urinary incontinence as defined in eligibility criteria may undergo repeat injections of MDC at 6 month intervals for up to a total of 4 injections.

Other Name: Autologous Muscle Derived Cells

Detailed Description:

Bladder exstrophy patients who have undergone primary bladder closure, but have a bladder capacity too low for bladder neck reconstruction (Group 1), have limited additional surgical options that permits urethral voiding and urine storage within a native bladder. Previous studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between bladder capacity and success of bladder neck reconstruction. Likewise, patients who have undergone bladder neck reconstruction but continue to have urinary incontinence (Group 2) are also faced with limited options. Often, both groups are considered for augmentation cystoplasty with closure of the bladder neck requiring intermittent catheter voiding through a surgically constructed continent catheterizable channel. Such major reconstruction has significant associated short and long-term morbidities. Endoscopic injection of MDCs for the treatment of urinary sphincter insufficiency is a potential alternative therapy for these patients. By increasing the outflow resistance and rhabdosphincter contractility, MDC injection may permit more efficient bladder cycling and bladder expansion in Group 1 patients allowing them to proceed on to bladder neck reconstruction. This same increase in resistance and sphincter contractility may allow Group 2 patients to attain urinary continence and avoid any further reconstructive surgical procedures.

Eligible and consented patients would undergo rectus muscle biopsy and immediately transferred to the Cell Therapy Lab for tissue processing and MDC expansion.The MDC expansion process takes approximately 21 days after which cells are harvest and cryopreserved for future injection.Each vial will be filled with cells at a concentration of approximately 2.0 x 107 cells/ml. At the time of planned MDC injection, enrolled patients will return for cystoscopy under anesthesia. At that time, aliquots of MDCs will be removed from the freezer and be allowed to thaw passively in the 30 minutes preceding the time of planned injection. MDC product will be endoscopically injected using an FDA approved DEFLUX™ needle at the level of the external urethral rhabdosphincter and bladder neck. Patients would be assessed for toxicity and adverse events postoperatively at day 1 and 40 followed by semiannual visits for 36 months. variables measured are:

At the time of participant identification, urinary incontinence defined as leakage of urine at night or leakage of urine at an interval of less than 3 hours in the daytime persisting at least 2 years after bladder neck reconstruction.

Screening labs obtained less than 30 days prior to MDC injection meeting the following criteria:

Urinalysis and urine culture demonstrating either no bacterial growth or growth of an organism that can be treated with an appropriate oral antibiotic for 7 days preoperatively. Participants with a positive urine culture should have the urinalysis and urine culture repeated after completion of antibiotics and prior to MDC injection. A negative urine culture must be demonstrated prior to MDC injection.

Parent or legal guardian who is, in the opinion of the investigator, reliable and willing to make themselves and patient available for the duration of the study and are willing to follow study procedures and unit policies.

Parent or legal guardian able to complete and sign the informed consent document.

Negative pregnancy test for sexual active female teenagers. If able to conceive and sexually active, participants must agree to use barrier contraceptives from the time of study enrollment until 6 months after the last MDC injection. Male participants who are able to conceive and are sexually active must agree to use protection as well from the time of study enrollment until 6 months after the last MDC injection.

Cystography at the time of screening demonstrating Grade IV vesicoureteral reflux (high-grade reflux with dilation of the renal pelvis and blunting or the fornices) or Grade V vesicoureteral reflux (Grade IV findings plus loss of the papillary impression and ureteral tortuosity).

Any degree of renal scarring at the time of screening as demonstrated by DMSA or MAG3 renal scintigraphy in the presence of any grade of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)

Need for chronic or pulse steroids or history of other congenital or acquired condition that results in immunocompromise

Previous adverse reaction to anesthesia

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01011777